The Indian Express – Mohali: Police arrest three out to kill a ‘prominent person in Punjab’, bust Babbar Khalsa terror module

The police claimed that a cache of weapons smuggled from Pakistan has also been recovered

Mohali – Panjab – India, 02 November 2023. The Mohali police on Saturday arrested three people and claimed to have busted a terror module of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The police claimed that a cache of sophisticated weapons, including three Zigna pistols of 9 mm calibre, three pistols of .30 bore, 30 live cartridges of 9mm bore, 195 live cartridges of .30 bore, and 50 live cartridges of .32 bore pistols, were recovered from the posession of the accused.

An investigator said that the arrested men were trying to ‘target a prominent person in Punjab’ and had done a recce of their target while living in Mohali.

The police identified the arrested men as Shakeel Ahmed, Lovepreet Singh alias Lambhu alias Sandhu and Saroop Singh alias Roop alias Ghula. The police said that a fourth member of the module, identified as one Nirvair Singh alias Sehajpreet Singh alias Sunny, has already been arrested.

Inspector General of Police (IG), Ropar range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, on Saturday claimed that absconding terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, who is presently believed to be based in Pakistan, was handling the busted BKI module on behest of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI.

IG Bhullar said that Rinda was trying to disrupt the unity and integrity of the country by carrying out anti-national activities in Punjab and other parts of India.

“During our investigations, It has come to light that foreign-made weapons have been smuggled into the country and delivered in Punjab to the accused with the help of drones from across the border,” Bhullar added.

A FIR under sections of the IPC and those under UAPA and Arms Act has been lodged against the men at Balongi police station. Further probe is on in the case.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/mohali-police-arrest-three-out-to-kill-a-prominent-person-in-punjab-bust-babbar-khalsa-terror-module-9003965/

The Tribune – Kids must be told about Sikh history: Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan

Tribune News Service

Mohali – Panjab – India, 07 May 2023. Expressing concern over the removal of historical events, especially those related to religious history from the school curriculum, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan today said the hidden agenda would deprive students from the knowledge of their glorious past.

He was addressing a gathering at a function organised by the Ramgarhia Sabha Mohali, to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, the founder of the Sikh empire and a general of the 18th century, at Ramgarhia Bhawan, Mohali.

The Speaker said keeping children connected with the Sikh history was the need of the hour. If children become good citizens by imbibing history and Gurbani, they would be able to overcome difficulties in their life.

Highlighting the history of ‘Misls’, Sandhwan said the rise of Sikh empire started from Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia.

Referring to Ramgarhia’s selfless service, the Speaker said after conquering the Red Fort in Delhi, he gave priority to build gurdwaras instead of collecting money for himself.

The Speaker said the valour and heroism of such heroes always inspired all to make selfless sacrifices for the nation. He said warriors like Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia followed Sikh gurus.

Sandhwan also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the gurdwara management.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/kids-must-be-told-about-sikh-history-sandhwan-505765

The Tribune – In a first, climate-sustainable agriculture on the agenda

Ruchika M Khanna, Tribune News Service

Mohali – Panjab – India, 06 December 2019. For the first time, climate sustainable agriculture was the focus of policy makers, agriculturists, agriculture scientists and the agro industry in Punjab, rather than just value addition or increasing farmers’ incomes.

As all stake holders in the agriculture sector got together during a session on “Agri and Food Processing: Value Addition to Agri Economy” during the second day of Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, they underlined the need to have climate sustainable agriculture as climate change crisis looms large, threatening the production of food.

The summit saw an engaging discussion by experts on traceability of seeds; use of artificial intelligence; reducing use of chemicals and switching to natural farming techniques; and increasing rotational crops.

Vishwajit Khanna, Additional Chief Secretary, Development, Punjab, said that huge ecological and environmental problems are emerging because of stubble burning of paddy and due to extensive use of water for paddy cultivation.

“We need to wean away farmers from water guzzling paddy and introduce farmers to high-value crops while the agro industry too upgrades to utilise the crops they grow,” he said.

“Because of climate change, climate resilient agriculture is the next big challenge and a big business opportunity which the industry can leverage,” said eminent agriculture scientist Prabhakar Rao. He also underlined the need to go in for indigenous seeds that would be more suitable to the states’ climate.

Neel Kingston, executive Vice-President, ITC, said that they too were approaching the climate change challenge head-on by having several interactive sessions with farmers, by showcasing and propagating the use of climate and pest-resilient crop practices.

Other panelists: Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Punjab Farmer Commission; Ingio Anton, MD, CN IIFCO; and Prashant Vatkar, CEO, Godrej Tyson; too spoke on the issue.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/in-a-first-climate-sustainable-agriculture-on-the-agenda/871100.html